Satyayoddha Kalki- Eye of Brahma

by Kevin Missal

  “Me? A king?”

  Nala nodded as he knelt down on one foot. So did the other Yakshas and the Manavs. Upon seeing them, the villagers knelt as well, out of respect. And Arjan stood there, his arms crossed, horrified. This was what it had come to. This was what his one act against Urvashi had led to.

  It had created fear in the heart of the Yaksha king, and his people.

  Does fear truly control people then?

  Arjan recalled how Lord Indra had not been just a scientist but a ruler who had controlled his subjects by fanning their fear.

  Perhaps that’s the best way to go.

  “My lord,” Nala said, “I would love to sponsor you for the next elections, to be our king and to rule Illavarti the way you want to rule. I hope you accept this partnership.”

  Arjan didn’t know what game he was playing, but Nala seemed honest. He was afraid and he didn’t want someone like Arjan to be angry with him.

  Nala offered Arjan his hand.

  Arjan looked at it, conflicted.

  You both have good hearts.

  Arjan grasped the Yaksha king’s hand.

  It was a new beginning for him.

  Kalki was standing at the same hill that he had stood on with Lord Bajrang.

  It had been a month since the day Taar had been defeated. And he was still here, perhaps wondering if another rebellion would rise. But none did. As Bajrang had promised, he had rehabilitated the rebels, supported them, listened to their problems, and won them over to his side.

  Kalki was met by Shuko who had told him that Arjan had sent no letter in response, but he had delivered Kalki’s letter to him. Arjan had been standing close to a funeral pyre when Shuko had met him. Kalki was worried. Why was he close to a pyre? He was afraid for him and decided to eventually go back to his brother. In time.

  “KALKI!” A voice came from below the mountain.

  He turned his gaze away from the setting sun and looked down to see Padma, who was waving at him. He smiled and descended quickly to meet her.

  “What happened?”

  “What should we do now?” she asked.

  “I don’t know. I must complete my journey.” Kalki sighed. “Listen,” he looked up at Padma, “I told you before. Arjan is alive! So, I have a favour to ask.”

  “Yes?”

  “I want you to guide him. I am sensing that he is in the wrong company. Maybe he has lost too much and death is the only thing that he sees around him.”

  “How do you know all of this?”

  “I don’t know.” He crossed his arms thoughtfully. “I want you to go back and guide him back to the right path. Will you?”

  “You want me to leave you?”

  Kalki nodded, his breath getting heavier by the second.

  “Why?” She clenched her jaw. “You come with me too.”

  “My journey isn’t complete, Padma. I have to go to Mahendragiri and meet Bhargav Ram. I shall meet you once I’m back.” He clutched her hands. Padma looked at him, surprised. “I . . . uh . . . I li—”

  And he was stopped mid-sentence when he heard someone approaching them. Kalki turned to see Lord Bajrang. He was wearing a white dhoti. Kalki noticed a rudraksh on his neck.

  “I hope I didn’t disturb you both.”

  “Not at all.” Padma smiled.

  Kalki glumly nodded.

  In a way, you did.

  He brushed the thought away.

  “What happened?” Kalki asked.

  “I want to show you something. I think this information might come in handy to you two.”

  Kalki and Padma were puzzled, but decided to follow Bajrang.

  They had entered a cave.

  It seemed like a cave, but it was different from the one Darooda Simha had led them to. It was wider and denser, with fire lamps carefully adjusted on the walls. The walls inside the cave were gleaming brightly.

  Bajrang walked deeper into the cave as the path turned rocky and hard. Kalki and Padma had had enough practice walking through different terrains. There was no snow inside, though it was chilly. They finally came to the middle part of the cave, where it opened up to a sealed clearing, with the outline of a dome. It was centred in the middle and around it, there was a pathway for one to look at the dome from all angles.

  Kalki noticed instantly that this dome wasn’t ordinary—it had intricate designs carved on it of figures, buildings, weapons, and whatnot. As Kalki studied these designs, Bajrang began to speak.

  “These two designs,” he showed a red and a blue figure, “represent the Asuras and the Devas. Blue represents the Devas from the North where Swarg was, a foreign land where their abode Mount Meru stood. On the other hand, the ones in red depicts Asuras who came from Pataal. Both were foreigners who came to our land,” and then he led his finger to the battle between these figures. They had strangely shaped spears in their hands. “They were in constant battle over the territory before the Devas and the Asuras decided to establish a treaty. They decided to divide the unconquered lands—Udaiyas and Dakshini, North and South. The North was ruled by the Devas and the South was ruled by Asuras. The problem was that the Asuras were quite the barbarians while the Devas were agriculturists, inventors, innovators. Indra, one of the best scientists of Devas, invented the Somas. And the Asuras wanted it. They kept fighting over it for centuries. Indra realized that the Somas were always going to be the bone of contention, so he spread it across the lands, hoping the worthy would receive it.”

  “I thought he had made the Somas to help Manavs.”

  “He did, that’s why he left most of the reserves in Suparnika which was home to a majority of the Manavs.”

  Kalki knew most of this history, but he had never seen it depicted graphically. The figures carved on the cave portrayed everything that had happened between the Devas and the Asuras.

  “One should know their past to set their future,” Bajrang explained when Kalki seemed confused at this discussion.

  Kalki pointed at one of the figures in blue who stood in front, while others stood behind him. The same was the case with the red figure, who towered over the others standing behind him.

  “What is this?”

  “Ah,” Bajrang grinned, “the so-called prophecy of good and evil, the Dharm and Adharm. The blue one is Dharm who stands at the front while the red one is Adharm.”

  “I don’t understand one thing.” Kalki arched his brows. “Who are these people behind Dharm and Adharm?”

  “The supporters of their cause, boy. I thought Kripa must have told you that. But alas! That man hardly knew anything.” Bajrang continued, “As an Avatar, Dharm is a soldier of Lord Vishnu, and all the people behind him are his supporters who will walk with him to fight the Adharm. Adharm will also be followed by his own army. You as Dharm will be in the front, leading your people, but there are others too as important as you who are going to assist you in this battle. They will decide the fate of this world.”

  Kalki sighed. “But Lord Govind . . . Lord Raghav, they alone . . .”

  Bajrang raised his bushy brows. “Lord Raghav was alone?”

  Of course not!

  “You were part of his army, the soldier of Lord Raghav.”

  “Yes, and so was Lakshman and numerous others. Lord Govind had all the Pandavs with him to support his cause. The battle of Dharm and Adharm, it is not between just two men.” He paused. “It’s between two armies fighting for their beliefs to save the world. A clash of two beliefs.”

  Bajrang looked pensive as he said, “I hope you find your army soon, kid.”

  Kalki stood at the exit of Dandak Hills, from where the slopes ascended to Mahendragiri. He was with Devadatta and Shuko. Padma had pursed her lips, disappointedly watching Kalki fading into the distance.

  “Don’t leave,” she said.

  “I have to. This is my destiny.”

  She shook her head. “You were going to say something to me?”

  “I like you.” Kalki smiled at Padma. “I hope you like me a
s well.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Look at you, you overconfident buffoon.”

  “I’m a buffoon? I just beat a Vanar with a gadha. You should hug me in appreciation.”

  “Shut up, you.”

  There was an awkward pause.

  “I should leave then.”

  “Hold on.”

  She came close to him and planted a soft kiss on his cheek.

  “Yeah, now leave,” she said.

  “A kiss on the cheek? That’s it?” Kalki said, disappointed.

  “You do realize that I am not an expressive girl . . .”

  Kalki grabbed Padma by the waist, not waiting for a single second as he kissed her—as hard as he could, letting her hair open from the bun in the process. And when he left her, she was flustered.

  Regaining her breath, all she could manage to say was ‘Wow’.

  “I have been waiting for too long. I didn’t want to wait anymore.”

  She kissed him back. They were wrapped in a close embrace for a while, until she said, “I’ll go to Arjan, all right?”

  “Thank you.”

  They parted and Kalki felt weird leaving her, but he had to. He mounted Devadatta who nudged his head while Shuko squawked.

  He gets a kiss and I get to carry him on my back. What luck? Devadatta cursed.

  Kalki just laughed at it. He looked back at Padma who was waving at Kalki.

  “When I return, I want to know who you are, where you are from. I know so little about you.”

  “If our fates allow, I suppose you will end up seeing my father when you return.”

  Kalki was curious, but with a final goodbye he straddled forward, his horse going towards the depths and the paths that would eventually lead him to Mahendragiri Mountains. He looked back. Padma was now a dot in the scenery. The thought of leaving her behind, leaving everyone behind and going alone . . .

  It scared him.

  And he knew it was supposed to scare him.

  But he would be okay.

  He was ready.

  He waited.

  He had been waiting for a long time now. And he didn’t mind. He liked it. The patience, it gave him the energy and the drive to do what he intended to when Kalki reached here.

  And he was here. He was quite close to his goal.

  He had seen it from the Third Shard—Kalki was about to reach—that meant he was on his way to meet Bhargav Ram.

  And once he meets Bhargav, he shall be disappointed. Poor boy.

  He would like to see the look on Kalki’s face when he comes to know the harsh truth.

  He walked from the throne, casually strolling in the ancient Temple of Shiva—the once revered abode of Lord Shiva himself, where everything was made of bronze and granite. There was a thirty feet tall idol of him as well, but no one to worship his image.

  He walked out where he saw the snow, the pillars, the wide clearing in front, and long spears plunged into the ground. And near the spears, stood cloaked men.

  Sunyavadis.

  He knew that Kalki will be afraid of them, but he didn’t mind. He liked the Sunyavadis—the worshippers of the void, the true keepers of the ancient prophecy. People in Illavarti had circulated all sorts of different prophecies about the great old evil, but none knew the true one, the one that held secrets and mysteries. Only the Sunyavadis did and they were here, joining his cause.

  They wanted to be a part of what I was doing. Orchestrating everything, so that everything falls into place . . . by seeing from the Third Shard of the Eye of Brahma.

  He had lied to Symrin about the Eye of Brahma being lost. A Vidyadhara like Symrin was just a pawn in his game. She didn’t need to know the truth.

  He hadn’t lost the Eye of Brahma. After the Mahayudh was over, he was alone and weak. He wanted to do something. And he went across the country, passing the seas and reaching Pataal to find the Eye of Brahma, eventually stealing it from Shukracharya.

  After he got it, he tried to use it only to realize that the Eye of Brahma was useless to him without the Third Shard which showed the future. With that, he could control all outcomes since he would already know what was going to happen. But the Third Shard was difficult to use. It could be used only after long periods of time.

  He hadn’t brought the First Shard with him, and he had given the Second Shard to Bajrang to build relations with the Vanar king. Bajrang was a good man and he wouldn’t use it for his advantage. It would be harmless under his protection. That way, no one would be able take it for themselves. He had kept the Third Shard for himself, and the Fourth Shard he had given to Nanda, so that it eventually reached Manasa. He had seen what Manasa would do with it in the future, how she would use it for her own cause.

  And that is exactly what I want.

  As he waited, he could feel the scent of Kalki reaching him, ready to free him from the treacheries of the curse that he had received.

  After ages, he would finally be free.

  He ruffled his wavy hair with his fingers, pulling it back to touch his scar where his mani used to be—in the middle of his forehead.

  Kalki would come and break his chains.

  Kalki was his saviour.

  An ironic twist, he mused. The man who had suffered because of him would be the one to save him. He was the man who had orchestrated the entire Kalyug. The Age was a bookend to his long life.

  He was the Cursed man.

  He was the Scarred Man.

  He was Ashwatthama.

  THE END

  TO BE CONTINUED…

  RAKSHAS – Intelligent humanoids, born in the South on the island of Eelam, are strong in combat and have tougher skin compared to other Tribals. Their average height goes above six feet. They have a patriarchal system and their culture, regardless of their furiousness, is quite backward. Most of them worship Lord Shiva, but are often considered by others as atheists. They have black skin and oiled hair.

  NAGAS – Royal and aristocratic living in the city of Naagpuri which floats on a lake. Nagas worship Sheesha and Lord Vishnu. Nagas are diplomats more than warriors, but have grown their military system over a period of time. Women are respected in their culture. They are said to have blue eyes and fair skin.

  YAKSHAS – Short in height and mischievous. They are considered the least threatening, but are very good in finances. They worship only their King and not any god. They lack military and political skills. Yakshinis, the female counterpart of the Yakshas, are rare. They live in Alakpur which is in the midst of a desert. They are the richest Tribe compared to others.

  ASURAS – Extinct race. Not much is known about this Tribe. They were considered to be the reason behind all the evil in this world. There was a great hunt of this Tribe where many Asura children, women and men were slaughtered and hanged due to the superstition. Some survived and have been considered wandering. They are atheists.

  DANAVS – Brothers of Asuras, they are supposedly as tall as trees and as huge as mountains. They were the arch-enemies of the gods and are now considered to be in sleep for their walks can create tremors. They are grandly fantasized during bedtime stories and many have not seen them since the Breaking.

  PISACHAS – Cannibals. Live over swamps in Daldal Lands. They worship the ‘the fittest’. They believe in karma and they ink their bodies with each crime they have committed. They are considered to be mentally unstable and only a fool would cross their lands.

  VANAR – They live in Dandak Forest. They are considered to be vastly knowledgeable. They have hairy bodies which are ridiculed as defects. They have gone underground and they choose not to be friendly towards visitors. They worship their protector Lord Bajrang who is considered as an immortal and their king.

  NOTE: There are other tribes that are not in the list. They are yet to be researched and documented.

  – Ved Vyas.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  First of all, I would like to thank my parents, Leslie Missal and Jyotsna Missal. They have been my pillars of support in th
is journey and guided me when I strayed.

  I would like to thank my agent, Mr. Anuj Bahri who’s helped me get the Kalki series to the right people.

  I would like to express my gratitude to the people at Fingerprint! Publishing. Gaurav Sabharwal and Shikha Sabharwal are unlike any other publisher out there. People of Prakash Books, such as Surendra Dangwal, Rajaram Rawool, Nataraj sir, Gururaj sir, Nihar sir, Neeraj sir, Mahesh ji have constantly supported me in this venture. My thanks to Garima Shukla for deftly editing my book and also loving it.

  Thanks to Bijit Sinha, my personal editor, who helped with the first edits.

  I would like to thank Ayush Dogra for his beautiful rap on Kalki, and Shubham Ghatge for composing the rap.

  Thanks to Sana Shekh for handling my interviews and reviews, Ajitabha Bose for creating wonderful posters and banners, and Anuj Kumar who helped me start this journey. Thanks bro!

  The other names as follows: Seema Saxena, Gagan bro, Manpreet Kaur (for supporting the book always), Helly Chatterjee.

  I would like to thank my two brothers—Shrey Singh and Ryan Mario Cardoza. You know why you are here.

  Most of all, thanks a lot my readers. You have been patiently waiting for this part. Hope you enjoy it!